Technically there is a somewhat better OW connection, on QR via DOH. There is a flight that leaves HKG around 01:20am, and I think the best connection would get you to ZRH around 1pm.

And it's totally possible one of those two flights were full.

All-in, I'd say CX did a pretty decent job here, except for denying the taxi fare (which was definitely just wrong information passed, for sure you could've gotten that refunded), and saying come back at 5am (this sounds bizarre to me, considering the check-in counters aren't even open then). Maybe there was some miscommunication. The CX flight accomodations via LHR were pretty good actually, considering the situation. Middle seat sucks though.

That's a tight connection ex-mainland China and I can't say I'd ever recommend it.

Regarding flying Swiss, to the folks dismissing it....I think you're kinda over-exaggerating here. Lufthansa owns both Swiss and Austraian. I've had Lufthansa re-route me on Swiss before. I imagine if the Austrian flight was going the next day with seats, the OP would've been re-routed via VIE to ZRH and had a similar if not slightly worse situation than he received with CX via LHR. Anyway, I don't think it's as bad as some are implying...Swiss = LH Group.

CX does itself a disservice by not putting a warning up about the flights from China or requiring longer connections, especially in the late parts of the day when inbound flights are more likely to be delayed due to system delays throughout the day.